By HEATHER CLARK
Special to The Gazette
Stevens Point Area Public School Board members will be down to the wire before they know the financial impact of passing a referendum Nov. 2 to address district space needs.
The School Board voted 7-1 Monday to have two questions on the ballot and also agreed 7-1 on what those questions should entail.
One will ask for about $54 million for capital improvements including classroom additions and remodeling to district buildings and a new Alternative High School building.
The other will request permission to annually exceed revenue caps for operating costs, but there's been no decision yet on a dollar amount.
Ray Haas voted no to each motion; Scott Schultz was not in attendance.
Board members cut about $14.5 million in construction projects from a $68.4 million laundry list of needs.
With the $68.4 million construction, the projected tax rate was $10.35 per $1,000 equalized valuation, which was about 75 cents higher than the existing tax rate of $9.60. With the reduction, the projected rate will drop, but officials couldn't say by how much.
Included in the annual operating costs question is $1 million to keep the district budget high enough that academic programs and athletics would not be threatened. Also in the question is $931,000 for maintenance supplies and utilities associated with new construction, $525,000 for additional custodians as a result of the construction, $500,000 for technology, $250,000 for textbooks and $165,000 for maintenance staff as a result of construction.
About $6 million in maintenance needs not directly related to construction was cut from the initial list of necessary projects. Those needs would be addressed through a long-term maintenance plan that calls for an additional $900,000 annually. Those dollars also are included in the operating costs question.
Modified tax figures presented to the board did not include the $54 million construction loan or the $4.2 million associated with annual recurring operating costs.
Based on piecemeal information presented, recurring annual operating costs could at most boost the tax rate a little more than $1 per $1,000 each year.
More precise amounts for both questions are expected to be provided at next Monday's board meeting.